Wheel assembly and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a wheel assembly including a flange portion extending integrally from one end of a sleeve and radially inwardly of the outer periphery of a bearing in the sleeve so as to prevent axial movement of the bearing outwardly of the sleeve from the one end thereof, together with a deformed portion extending integrally from the other end of the sleeve and radially inwardly of the outer periphery of a washer or spacer located in the sleeve in adjacent relation to the bearing so as to prevent axial movement of the washer and of the bearing outwardly of the sleeve from the other end thereof. Also disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a wheel assembly comprising the steps of forming a bearing sleeve with an outer surface, with a radially inwardly extending flange portion at one end, and with a projecting deformable portion at the other end, bonding to the outer surface of the sleeve a rubber-like wheel, inserting a bearing into the sleeve through the projecting portion and into adjacent relation to the flange portion, subsequently inserting an annular spacer into the sleeve through the projecting portion and into adjacent relation to the bearing, and then deforming the projecting portion inwardly into at least partially overlying relation to the adjacent side of the spacer to permanently retain the bearing and spacer within the sleeve.

United States Patentv 1191 FOREIGN PATENTS-OR APPucATIoNs PrimaryExaminerRichard J. Johnson Assistant ExaminerReinhard J. EisenzopfAtt0rneyRobert E. Clemency et al.

ma ma 11391 52. BX.

Britnell Jan. 1, 1974 WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF [57] ABSTRACTMANUFACTURE Disclosed herein is a wheel assembly including a Inventor: fBlltne", Peterborough, flange portion extending integrally from one endof a O Canada sleeve and radially inwardly of the outer periphery of A I0 tboard Marine Cor oration a bearing in the sleeve so as to preventaxial move- [73] sslgnee wlukegan m p ment of the bearmg outwardly ofthe sleeve from the one end thereof, together with a deformed portionexl Filedl P 1972 tending integrally from the other end of the sleeveand I: 24 radially inwardly of the outer per phery of a washer or [211No L589 spacer located in the sleeve 1n ad acent relation to the bearingso as to prevent axial movement of the washer [52] U.S. Cl. 301/63 PW,308/1/92 d f the bearing outwardly of the sleeve from the [51 Int. 5 0other end thereof [58] Fleld of ig F Zb EE Also disclosed herein is amethod of manufacturing a 01 1591 wheel assembly comprising the steps offorming a bearing sleeve with an outer surface, with a radially inwardlyextending flange portion at one end, and with [56] References cued aprojecting deformable portion at the other end, UNITED STATES PATENTSbondin to the outer surface of the sleeve a 2 2,730,222 1/1956 Klein301/63 PW rubber-like wheel, inserting a bearing into the sleeve ,7 9301/63 PW through the projecting portion and into adjacent 2,955,83410/196O Marsha" 301/63 PW relation to the flange portion, subsequentlyinserting 316401584 2/1972 fi an annular spacer into the sleeve throughthe Ja 308/190 projecting portion and into adjacent relation to theII882I480 10/1932 amesiialai ifi 308/190 bearmg andlhe deforming theProjeciing inwardly into at least partially overlying relation to theadjacent side of the spacer to permanently retain the bearing and spacerwithin the sleeve.

M 5 Clair'n's, 3 Drawing Figures WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OFMANUFACTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generallyto wheel assemblies and more particularly to bogie wheel assemblies forvehicles such as, for instance, snowmobiles. The invention also relatestomethods of making wheel assemblies such as bogie wheels. In the past,various arrangements have been employed in the manufacture of bogie andother wheels. In one construction, a rubber wheel was fitted onto abearing retainer through employment of interlocking configuration on theouter periphery of the bearing retainer and the inner periphery of thewheel. In addition, the retainer included a flange to retain a bearingagainst axial movement in one direction and, in addition, at the otherside of the bearing, the retainer included an annular recess affordingreceipt of a snap ring which interfered with movement of the bearing outof the retainer in the opposite direction.

Another form of prior construction is disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,592,511 issued July 13, 1971.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a wheel assembly whichis of especially simple construction and which is accordingly veryeconomical to produce. More specifically, in accordance with theinvention, there is provided a wheel assembly in which a rubber orrubber-like wheel is bonded in the manufacturing process to the outerwall of the tubular sleeve and in which a bearing is retained in thetubular sleeve by reason of a flange portion which extends integrallyfrom one end of the sleeve inwardly of the outer periphery of thebearing and by reason of a deformed sleeve portion at the other endthereof, which portion is deformed inwardly of the outer periphery of awasher or spacer located within the sleeve in axial-adjacent relation tothe bearing on the side thereof remote from the flange portion.

In accordance with the method of the invention, the bearing sleeve isfirst machined to include an outer surface which is preferablycylindrical and to include at one end thereof, an inwardly extendingflange, and at the other end thereof, an axially extending deformableportion. A rubber or rubber-like wheel is then molded onto or bonded tothevouter cylindrical surface of the hearing. A bearing is then insertedinto the sleeve from the other end followed by insertion of a spacer orwasher. The axially extending deformable portion is then deformed orcrimped or staked over the adjacent side of the spacer to positivelyretain the spacer andvbearing in the sleeve.

The wheel assembly provided by the invention is particularly economicalto manufacture and will provide reliable service. In addition, a wheelassembly in accordance with the invention is particularly light inweight and provides effective impact cushioning of both the bearingretained therein and the machine or device supported by the wheelassembly. Other advantages of the invention will become known byreference to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a wheel assembly embodyingvarious of the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wheel assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating various of the 9 componentsprior to assembly.

Before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts set forth in the following generaldescription or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and not of limitation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION be employed, in the illustrated construction, thebearing 19 is preferably pre-assembled and includes an inner race 21 andan outer race 23 with an outer or pe' ripheral surface 27 and axiallyspaced side walls 29 and 31. As is conventional, a series of balls orrollers 33 are contained between the inner and outer races 21 and 23.

The tubular sleeve 13, includes, at one end, a radially inwardlyextending flange or flange portion 37 which projects sufficientlyradially inwardly beyond the outer surface 27 of the bearing outer race23 so as to partially overlie the adjacent sidewall 29 of the outer race23 and to thereby prevent movement of the bearing 19 in the axialdirection past the flange 37 and out of the sleeve 13. While otherarrangements are possible, in the illustrated construction, the flange37 is in the form of a continuously extending collar or shoulder.

At its other end, the tubular sleeve 13 is initially provided (Se'e FIG.3) with a projecting portion 39 which extends axially and which includesan inner surface 41 constituting an extension of the inner surface 17and which is deformable.

Bonded to the outer surface 16 of the tubular sleeve is a rubber orrubber-like wheel 42.

Located within the tubular sleeve 13 adjacent to the sidewall 31 of thebearing 19 is a spacer or washer 43 having an outer diametercorresponding generally to the outer surface 27 of the bearing 19 andwhich is preferably split so as to facilitate insertion of the spacerinto the tubular sleeve 13 and to avoid binding in the final assemblystep.

After insertion of the spacer or washer 43 into the tubular sleeve andinto adjacent relation to the bearing 19, the wheel assembly 11, as thusfar assembled, is placed on an anvil (not shown) and the extendingportion 39 which projects outwardly is deformed by staking or crimpingor otherwise so that the metal flows radially inwardly beyond the outerperiphery of the spacer 43 and into overlying relation to the adjacentside of the spacer 43 to prevent axial movement of the spacer 43 and ofthe bearing 19 outwardly of the tubular sleeve 13 past the now deformedportion 39.

In accordance with one embodiment of the method of the invention, thetubular sleeve 13 and washer or spacer 43 are separately manufacturedthrough suitable processes from ferrous material, such as steel. Inaddition, the bearing 19 is pre-assembled. The tubular sleeve 13 is thenplaced in a compression mold together with a rubber or rubber-likepreform. The mold is then closed and heated to produce the final shapeof the wheel and to bond the rubber or rubber-like material to the outersurface 16 of the tubular sleeve 13. The bearing 19 and spacer 43 arethen inserted in the tubular sleeve 13 and the projecting deformableportion 39 of the tubular sleeve 13 is staked", crimped, or otherwisedeformed into at least partially overlying relation to the adjacent sideof the spacer 43 to permanently retain the wheel assembly components inassembled relation.

There is thus provided an efficient manufacturing method which producesa very desirable wheel assembly at an economical cost.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel assembly comprising a metalic tubular sleeve having an outersurface, a wheel of rubber or rubber-like material bonded to said outersurface, a bearing located within said sleeve, a flange portionextending integrally from one end of said sleeve inwardly of the outerperiphery ofsaid bearing so as to prevent axial movement of said bearingoutwardly of said sleeve from said one end thereof, a washer in saidsleeve in adjacent relation to said bearing on the side thereof axiallyremote from said flange portion, and a deformed portion extendingintegrally from the other end of said sleeve inwardly of the outerperiphery of said washer so as to prevent axial movement of said washerand of said bearing outwardly of said sleeve from said other endthereof.

2. A wheel assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outersurface of said tubular sleeve is generally cyindrical.

3. A wheel assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said washer is asplit ring.

4. A method of manufacturing a wheel assembly comprising the steps offorming a metalic tubular bearing sleeve with an outer surface, and witha radially inwardly extending flange portion at one end, and with aprojecting deformable portion at the other end, bonding to the outersurface of the sleeve a rubber or rubber-like wheel, inserting a bearinginto the sleeve through the projecting portion and into adjacentrelation to the flange portion, subsequently inserting an annular spacerinto the sleeve through the projecting portion and into adjacentrelation to the bearing, and deforming the projecting portion inwardlyinto at least partially overlying relation to the adjacent side of thespacer to permanently retain the bearing and spacer within the sleeve.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said step of deformingthe projecting portion is effected by applying to the projecting portiona force which is directed axially of the bearing sleeve.

1. A wheel assembly comprising a metalic tubular sleeve having an outersurface, a wheel of rubber or rubber-like material bonded to said outersurface, a bearing located within said sleeve, a flange portionextending integrally from one end of said sleeve inwardly of the outerperiphery of said bearing so as to prevent axial movement of saidbearing outwardly of said sleeve from said one end thereof, a washer insaid sleeve in adjacent relation to said bearing on the side thereofaxially remote from said flange portion, and a deformed portionextending integrally from the other end of said sleeve inwardly of theouter periphery of said washer so as to prevent axial movement of saidwasher and of said bearing outwardly of said sleeve from said other endthereof.
 2. A wheel assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidouter surface of said tubular sleeve is generally cylindrical.
 3. Awheel assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said washer is a splitring.
 4. A method of manufacturing a wheel assembly comprising the stepsof forming a metalic tubular bearing sleeve with an outer surface, andwith a radially inwardly extending flange portion at one end, and with aprojecting deformable portion at the other end, bonding to the outersurface of the sleeve a rubber or rubber-like wheel, inserting a bearinginto the sleeve through the projecting portion and into adjacentrelation to the flange portion, subsequently inserting an annular spacerinto the sleeve through the projecting portion and into adjacentrelation to the bearing, and deforming the projecting portion inwardlyinto at least partially overlying relation to the adjacent side of thespacer to permanently retain the bearing and spacer within the sleeve.5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said step of deformingthe projecting portion is effected by applying to the projecting portiona force which is directed axially of the bearing sleeve.